Desk.



L. C. WALKER.

DESK.

APPLICATION FILED reuze, 1912.

Patented Sept. 2, 1913.

2 SHEETS-SHEET l.

L. C. WALKER.

DESK.

APPLICATION FILED mezze, 19.12.

Patented Sept. 2, 1913.

Z SHEETS-SHEET 2.

LQUIS C. WALKER., 0F MUSKEGON, MICHIGAN.

DESK.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Sept. 2, 115113.

Application filed February 28, 1912. Serial No. 690,443.

To all 'whom/15 may conc/em te it known that l, llioms C. VVALKnn, a citizen of the United States, residing at lVluskegon, in the county of Muskegon and State of Michigan, have invented new and useful Improvements in Desks, of which the following is a specification.

The present invention relates to improvements in desks,-and it comprehends, generally, a desk structure wherein the two cabinet sections consist each ot a stack of socalled individual units, these sections being connected by a top panel or top, which is detachably related thereto, so as to admit ot' its being removed when it is desired to change the assemblage of units in either or both of the stacks, z'. e., to substitute units ot a different type for any or all of those orig'n nally in a stack, or to add or withdraw units. So far as this feature of the invention is concerned, the latter resides in certain improvements in the construction of the top panel oir top, and ot the top members ot the cabinet sections.

The invention also, however, includes certain other improvements in or relating to said top panel, notably the provision ol movable dummy side panels which are carried by the first-mentioned panel and are designed for eoperation with the bases on which the stacks rest, to complete the sides of the desk and give the same a finished appcarance, all of t-he im irovements mentioned being hereinafter set torth and explained at length.

A structural embodiment of the invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawings, wherein-- Figure 1 is a collective view of the parts of the desk disassembled; Fig. 2 is a perspective view of the desk in a set-up condition7 the view being taken from the rear ot' the desk; Fig. 3 is a front elevation, the top panel being shown in section; and Fig. 4 is a transverse vertical sectional view, taken on the line 4-4 of Fig. 3.

In said drawings, 5 and 6 indicate in a general manner, the two cabinet -sections of the desk, 7 the top panel, or top, and 8 the rear panel, or back. `Each ot' the cabinet sections consists primarily of a stack of individual units 9, which latter may be of various types and sizesand are removably assembled together and interlocked in the manner shown and described in Patent No. 963,669, granted to Walker and lVilson and dated July 5, 1910, to which reference may be had for an extended explanation. The stacks lest upon and are supported by snitable bases 10 that project `:rconsi erable distance beyond the rear stack walls. The top members 1l ot' the stacks carry the usual sliding panels 12 and their side rails are connectml by pairs of horizontal cleats 121, the members ot each air of cleats being spaced apart trom eaci other and being formed with cent-ral horizontal openings 14' arranged in alinement.

To the under face ,of the top panel 7, there is fastened a skeleton rectangular traute comprising transversely arranged side rails 15 and 16 and longitudinal front and rear rails 17 and 18, said rails being located parallel with and adjacent to the eorresjmnding edges of said panel. 'lhe longitudinal rails are further connected b v a centrally located pair ot' cross-rails 1t) and .2() arranged parallel with the side rails. The rails l5 and 17 are cach toi-mcd with pairs of seats 21 and 22 and projections or ugs 23 and 24 which alternate with each other and are produced by cutting away portions of the rails, as shown in Fig. 1, the projections onone ail extending toward and being located directly opposite each other. The location and proportions of these seats and projections are such that the projections 23 will fit squarely between the cleats 1.55 on top ot section 5, while the seats will receive the adjacent ends of such cleats. ln like manner, the rails lli and Qt) are formed with alternating seats 25 and Q6 and projm'ftions 27 and 28, said seats receiving the ends ot' the cleats 13 on the top ot section G, and said projections 27 fitting inthe spaces between said cleats. The projections 24 and 2G rest, in part, upon the rear portions of the top members .11 of the two sections and are thus supported. The arrangement is such, therefore, that the top panel will :est squarely upon the tops of the two sections 5 and 6, and will be held firmly against movement from such position by the interlocking cooperation of the various cleats, projections and seats, as above described. To further preclude accidental displacement of the top panel, 'a pair of locking rods 29, onefor each section, may be employed, if desired, these rods being inserted through openings 30 in the front rail 17 of said panel, and through the open- 'ings 14 in cleats 13, the openings last mentioned alining with the rail openings 30, as

will be understood. I

To complete the sides of the desk and give the same a finished appearance, there is hinged to the rear projection of each of the rails 15 and 16a dummy panel 31. These panels are adapted to be swung downwardly into vertical position, so as to rest at their lower ends upon the bases 10, the latter being" provided with cleats 32 disposed transversely thereon and located rearwardly of the stacks. Said cleats interlock with panels 31 through the intermediary of transverse seats 33 formed in the panel ends, (see Fig. 1);

`Where the desk is designed to occupy a positionl in the center of a room, or any similar position where its back would be visible, the rear panel 8 will be necessarily employed, but this panel need 'not be used where the desk is disposed lengthwise against a wall or occupiesany other position wherein its back would be concealed. Said panel, when used,`is tted between the top panel and the bases 10, and rests at its lower longitudinal edge upon the latter, its inner face fitting flush against the rear edges of the dummy panels 3l and the cleats 32, (see F ig. 4). A locking device of any suitable character, as, for instance, the strip 34inay be employed to hold panel 8 in place.

From the foregoing it will be seen that the top may be readily detached from the desk without changing the relative positions of the two cabinet sections 5 and 6, whereupon the arrangement of the units comprising the stacks ,'9 may be varied to suit existing conditions. Moreover, by providing a top panel in connection with said stacks, the necessity of utilizing a separate desk or table for writing v,purposes is obviated, since the structure as a whole is itself converted into a desk by the use of such panel. A considerable saving in space is likewise obtained yin this way, as will also be understood. Furthermore, the employment of the dummy panels renders the structure symmetrical by conforming it to the ordinary lines of desk construction. n

l claim as my invention:

1. ln a desk, the combination of a air of cabinet sections each provided upon its top with a pair of horizontal transversely-ar ranged spaced cleats; and a top anel re.- movably mounted upon said sections and provided upon its under face, adjacent each side edge thereof, with a pair of rails arranged at right angles to the corresponding pair of cleats, each pair of rails being provided with opposed seats wherein the ends of the adjacent cleats are received, and with opposed projections fitting in the spaces between said cleats.

2. lln a desk, the combination of a pair of spaced cabinet sections each provided upon its top with a vpair of spaced horizontal cleats; and a top panel mounted upon said sections and provided upon its under lface with a pair of spaced horizontal rails for c0- operation with Veach pair of cleats, each pair of rails being formed with pairs of opposed seats wherein the ends of the corresponding cleats are designed to fit, and with a pair of opposed projections located intermediate said pairs of seats and designed to lit in the spaces between said cleats.

3. ln a desk, the combination of a pair of spaced cabinet sections each comprising a stack of individual units removably assembled together, and a base on which the same is mounted, said bases projecting rearwardly beyond the corresponding stacks; a top panel resting upon said stacks and removablyl interlocked with the tops thereof.; and a pair of dependingV dummy panels secured to the opposite side edges of said top panel and arranged to rest at their lower edges upon the adjacent projecting portions of the corresponding bases, said dummy panels occupying the same plane as the outer side members of the adjacent stacks.

4. ln a desk, the combination of a pair of spaced cabinet sections each comprising a stack of individual units, and a base on which the same is mounted, said bases projecting rearwardly-beyond the corresponding stacks and being each provided with a cleat; a top panel resting upon said stacks and removably interlocked with the tops thereof; and a pair of de ending dummy panels secured to the oppositeA side edgesof said top panel and arranged to rest at their lower edges upon the adjacent projecting portions oit the corresponding bases, said dummy panels occupyin the same plane as the outer side members o? the adjacent stacks and having their said lower edges recessed for engagement with the corresponding cleats. y

ln testimony whereof l have hereunto set my hand in presence of two subscribing witnesses.

' LOUIS C. WALKER.

Witnesses:

BYRDK. llVaaco, C. A. VVnEoo. 

